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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

READER QUESTONS:

Shunt Tap Calls for Puncture Code

Published on Fri Aug 12, 2005

Question: How should I code for a shunt tap?


Nebraska Subscriber


Answer: For a shunt tap, you should select 61070 (Puncture of shunt tubing or reservoir for aspiration or injection procedure).

Surgeons frequently choose to place an intracranial shunt to aid in treating hydrocephalus. The physician performs a shunt tap by inserting a small-gauge needle through the scalp, thereby penetrating the tubing or bulb of the reservoir. In this way, he or she may measure and/or reduce intracranial pressure, withdraw cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnosis or inject a radioisotope into the shunt valve to follow and quantitate the flow of CSF with an isotope camera (gamma camera).
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